float 1 of 2

Definition of floatnext
1
as in to hover
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air a canoe floating down the river particles of dust floating in the air

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2

float

2 of 2

noun

as in dock
a structure used by boats and ships for taking on or landing cargo and passengers the crew put the cargo on the float before heading back down the river

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of float
Verb
In Russia, meanwhile, ice floating is a growing trend. Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 7 Mar. 2026 Around the world, areas pre-designated for floating wind deployments can instead be immediately used for data centers. Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
The state's large Irish population fills March with festive Celtic music, traditional Irish dancing and decorated floats in everything from dinners to pub crawls to road races. Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 Mar. 2026 The tattoo shop used the projectile as a Fourth of July float before installing it to the permanent collection. Idaho Statesman, 3 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for float
Recent Examples of Synonyms for float
Verb
  • Alcohol spending as a share of household budgets is also hovering at near 40-year lows, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics that was cited in the report.
    Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The 54-year-old comedian with a beard full of gray stubble drops back to pass, launching a tight spiral underneath SoFi’s massive technicolor halo scoreboard hovering above a sea of empty stands.
    Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Locals consistently rave about FIG and Leon’s Oyster Shop, though wandering around aimlessly—especially on the city’s lively King Street—is part of the fun, too.
    Annie Daly, Vogue, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Memories of the late David Crosby calmly wandering about, checking the performances going on while waiting to play his set, or watching Cuban singer and guitarist Eliades Ochoa, of Buena Vista Social Club fame, enjoying a quiet moment with his family and having an ice cream, come to mind.
    Fernando Gonzalez, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Outside, a 60-foot pool, cabana, and 135-foot yacht-ready dock overlook unobstructed bay views.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The sheriff's office said two of the three were able to swim to a dock, but the third person, identified only as a male, did not know how to swim and was not wearing a life jacket.
    Jose Fabian, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Approximately 6,700 passengers will get to set sail on three- or four-night itineraries, with Disney Adventure's maiden voyage getting underway March 10, sailing from its home port of Singapore.
    ABC News, ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
  • That often sails round-trip from Seattle or Vancouver with stops such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Elephants and forest buffalos roam the shores, while the area is renowned for its seasonal leatherback turtle sightings and brilliant bird life.
    Melanie van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The news offers a preview of how Starlink Mobile could enable subscribers to roam internationally by using SpaceX’s constellation of orbiting satellites.
    Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • After that comes Monterey, in April, with its big annual celebration full of science and wharf fun.
    John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Mike Godsy, the city's superintendent of parks, said the additional structure is expected to help strengthen the rest of the wharf.
    John Ramos, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Sharks, whales, rays, turtles, dolphins, and even the rare dugong (a manatee-like creature) swim these stunning seas alongside hundreds of species of fish.
    Melanie van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • For fish tables, players aim to shoot different fish types swimming across the screen using a virtual cannon or gun.
    Scott Butler, Florida Times-Union, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • While both candidates occupied the party’s progressive flank, Talarico presented himself as a Democrat who could speak the language of faith and values to voters who have drifted rightward in recent years.
    Nik Popli, Time, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Breakfast patios overlook rafters drifting by; anglers cast from stone embankments; kayakers practice freestyle moves at the whitewater park in the middle of it all.
    Ted Alvarez, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Float.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/float. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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